'How Many Triangles?' Puzzle Confuses the Internet

We're huge fans of riddles and puzzles around here, so it's no shock that the latest brain teaser on the internet caught our eyes. But we didn't expect it to make us scratch our heads as much as it did — especially since it involves something as simple as shapes.

Originally shared on Twitter by user @jiteshpillaai, this brain teaser asks a simple question that many people who've taken math classes will recognize: "How many triangles?" The corresponding image features a large triangle with a variety of different shapes inside of it, thanks to cleverly drawn lines that connect to the main shape. It might sound simple at first, but take one look at the picture and you'll instantly know why so many people are confused.

Tricky, huh? Some folks might be tempted to give a quick answer of 4, including the large main triangle and the three mini triangles at the very top. Sadly, that answer is incorrect. Others might notice that there are a few medium-sized triangles within the large main shape and cap their answer at 7. Unfortunately, that answer is also wrong.

Luckily, Pillaai has the solution for you whenever you're ready. You might be stunned at how large the answer is — 18. In a follow-up Twitter post, Pillaai walks us through the solution with a super-helpful video.